With the opening weekend at Howell Ice World going by without a TItans win, the hopes and dreams for the first Titan win at Ice World shifted over to the Juniors for their first game at the brand new facility.
For the occasion, the Titans welcomed long time rival the Central Penn Panthers and coach Andy Scott to Ice World for the opening Met League Junior Game at the facility for a 7:50 PM start time on Thursday, January 6th.
Both squads welcomed the opportunity to christen the rink and after some festive ceremonies including a couple of commemorative face offs, the puck was ready to drop.
The Titans and Panthers came out flying as the Titans were motivated to get the first win at Ice World, and they got the crowd jumpstarted after a spirited, yet scoreless first period, as Dalton Bew got the Titans going on the Power Play on an assist from Pat Kearns with 12:30 remaining in the second. Just a minute and a half later, on another TItan Power Play, Dan O'Keefe cashed in from Cam Bregenzer to stretch the lead to 2-0.
Going into the third, the Titans had the edge with a 2-0 lead, and the crowd wanted that first win. Surely the Titans knew it was up them to oblige and the crowd the first Titan win in Ice World history. Just about 30 seconds into the third, another Bew Power Play goal, this time assisted by Casey Litwack stretched the lead to three. A Central Penn goal got the Panthers to within two again with 4:20 remaining in the third, but the Titans shut the door and even got an insurance amrker from Danny Reno with 1:52 to play. Goaltender Chris Marsillo stopped 29 out of 30 to pick up the win, while the Titans fired 28 shots on the Panther cage. All in all a successful night and a great way for the Juniors to open up Howell Ice World to Junior Hockey.